Doing a line:

• Make sure that all data has been dumped from the meter, or at least that you are not about to erase any useful data.

• Begin in a place that is easy to locate and fairly easy to describe.

• Decide what direction you're going to walk in and take a bearing with the compass.

• Pace out the appropriate distance.

• Take several readings until you are satisfied that the meter is giving you something consistent, then record it.

• For our trip, a good reference distance between sites would be something like 50 feet. If the signal varies wildly, or if the path you are taking is tortuous, shorten this distance.

What To Write In The Notebook:

Start off the notebook with a general description of what you are doing. Write down the names of all the members in your crew.

For each entry:

• Record the station name (usually a line number followed by a station number like L1-1, L1-2, etc).

• Record the distance and bearing from the previous station.

• Record the time of the reading

• Record the readings (even if it is recorded in the magnetometer - you never know if the batteries will die or the computer will malfunction!) and an average.

• Comment on anything out of the ordinary.